Universal social protection (USP) is key to sustained inclusive economic and social development. Yet 55 per cent of the global population is still excluded from social protection. With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 1.3), all UN Member States have committed to “implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable”. Now is the time to move toward this universal social protection goal.

Social protection prevents poverty, reduces inequality, promotes social inclusion and strengthens social cohesion. It also facilitates human development and enhances access to decent working and living conditions. The ‘Together to Achieve Universal Social Protection by 2030’ conference will bring together ministers, policy makers and civil society to discuss the achievements and challenges of building universal social protection systems and ensuring sustainable and equitable finance for social protection.

The meeting will be an opportunity to hear what countries need from development partners to join the Global Partnership for Universal Social Protection to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (USP2030) and to encourage countries in the Global South to adopt the USP2030 Call to Action.

Speakers include:

‒ Ms Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

The Global Partnership for Universal Social Protection to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (USP2030), launched in 2016 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, co-chaired by the World Bank and the ILO, brings together the African Union, FAO, the European Commission, the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF), Helpage, IADB, ITUC, OECD, Save the Children, UNDP-IPC, UNICEF, along with Belgian, Finnish, French and German cooperation; others continue to join as the partnership is expanding.